Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Marian softball team began their 2023 season on Wednesday March 1, splitting a double-header at Indiana Tech in their first action of the campaign. Marian suffered a 2-1 loss in game one, while run-ruling a 6-1 victory in game two to begin the year 1-1.
GAME 1 | Marian 1-2 Indiana Tech
Strikeouts were a problem for Marian in their season opener, as punchouts tossed by Savannah Bravo spoiled chances for the Knights to score. In the first inning both Savannah Harweger and Sierra Norman roped a base hit to move into scoring position, but a pair of K's for Bravo and a groundout ruined the chance. Bravo would go on to retire the Knights in order in second, third, and fourth innings, picking up seven strikeouts to keep Marian scoreless.
While the bats struggled, Olivia Stunkel kept Marian in the game as the sophomore pitcher was near perfect through three innings, retiring the side in order in the first and stranding a walk in the second. In the third Stunkel would allow a single, but faced the minimum as Grace Meyer picked off Jordan Dippel stealing third. In the fourth inning Stunkel saw her scoreless start come to a halt, as a one-out single was followed with a double to the outfield, driving in the game's first run.
Stunkel got out of the inning stranding two runners as she tossed her sixth strikeout of the game, and in the top of the fifth Marian aimed to get on the board with a Caitlyn Phillips single. The half inning would close with Phillips getting stranded at second base, but in the sixth the offense got in rhythm with Harweger drawing a lead-off walk. Two outs piled up before Norman prolonged the inning by getting hit by a pitch, brining up Grace Meyer who belted an RBI single to score her teammate and tie the game.
Tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Knights made a change in the circle as Abigail McPherson made her first appearance of the season, tossing a perfect inning in her return. Marian was unable to plate a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, and in the bottom of the inning McPherson allowed a pair of singles and walk, with the second hit scoring Dippel on a play at the plate allowing Indiana Tech to walk-off the win.
Marian mustered five hits in the loss, with Meyer recording the lone RBI for Marian. In the circle Stunkel took a no-decision going 5.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing four hits. McPherson was charged with the loss, going 1.2 innings while allowing two hits and the game-winning round.
GAME 2 | Marian 9-1 Indiana Tech | 6 Innings
Looking to get the bats going early, Marian got on the board in the top of the first inning as a Savannah Harweger single and stolen base came around to score on a Sierra Norman sacrifice fly. Indiana Tech would respond with an RBI double off Sydney Wilson in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game, and the score would stay static after a scoreless second inning.
In the third Marian broke the game open, with Jenna Minnix breaking the tie with an RBI triple that scored Harweger. Norman followed with an RBI single two batters later, and Abbi Wirey finished the frame with an RBI base hit of her own to make it a 4-1 lead. After a perfect frame for Wilson in the third, Marian drove home three more in the fourth, with Harweger ripping an RBI double while Minnix delivered her second RBI triple of the game, scoring the shortstop and Brooke Knox.
With a 7-1 lead at hand, Marian worked to close the game as Wilson tossed a three-up, three-down fourth, while in the fifth the senior stranded a pair of hits to keep the Warriors off the board. Marian polished off the scoring in the top of the sixth inning as Hayley Greene drove in two runs on a hard-hit single, driving the Knights' lead to eight.
Needing three outs to get a run-rule win, the Knights turned to Jaylah Guilliam, who returned to the circle for the first time since 2021. In her appearance, Guilliam faced the minimum, picking up a strikeout before her defense turned a double-play to end the game.
The Knights collected 10 hits in the win, with Minnix and Harweger each recording three. Harweger scored four of the team's nine runs, while Minnix scored twice with two triples. Mackenzie Dalton and Harweger doubled in the win, and the shortstop collected two stolen bases. Wilson would earn the win going 5.0 innings, claiming a strikeout as she scattered four base hits.
Marian will now head to Florida for their annual Spring Break trip, playing 10 games in Melbourne, Fla., from March 6 through 12. The Knights first games will come against Roosevelt and Michigan-Dearborn.
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